While Vettel leads the standings, champions Mercedes stretched their lead in the constructors' standings to 33 points and are 5-3 to Ferrari on wins.

By Alan Baldwin

SPIELBERG, Austria: Ferrari have told Sebastian Vettel he just has to sign on the dotted line to stay with the Formula One glamour team next season.

The championship leader is out of contract at the end of the year but Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne set out his team's position at the Austrian Grand Prix.

"I made it very clear that if he wants to stay then we'll just renew it. It's up to him," Marchionne told reporters before Sunday's race.

Vettel has delayed contract talks to focus on the championship battle, saying there will be plenty of time over the summer, and any haggling is likely to be about money and the number of years.

The German, a four times world champion, moved 20 points clear of closest rival Lewis Hamilton after finishing runner-up to the Briton's Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas at the Red Bull Ring.

With the 20 round season approaching the halfway point at Silverstone next weekend, Vettel has won three races and it would probably have been four had he been given one more lap on Sunday.

As it was, he missed out by a mere 0.6 of a second. Speaking to the Italian media afterwards, Marchionne said there was plenty to be happy about however. "It was very close. We are there and our German friends know it," he said.